Seat construction



Aug. 13, 1957 c. P. LILJENGREN SEAT CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheath-Sheet 1 7 Original Filed Dec. 25. 1952 INVENTOR I ATTORNEY 1957 c. P. LILJENGREN 2,802,516

SEAT CONSTRUCTION ori inai Filed ec. 25, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR C'UI'LIIS P. Liljengren.

BY mm ATTORNEY Aug. 13, 1957 c. P. LILJENGREN SEAT CONSTRUCTION 4 Sheds-Sheet. 3

Original Filed Dec. 23, 1952 IN VENTOR Curtis Liijerogren ATTORNEY 1957 c. P. LILJEN'GREN 2,802,516

SEAT CONSTRUCTION Original Filed Dec. 23, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY d swPa ro" SEAT CONSTRUCTION Cnrtisli Liljengren, Miami, Fla., assignor, by direct and mesneassignments, to T & C Aircraft Corporation, a corporation of Delaware Original application December 23, 1952, Serial. No. 327,570. Divided and this application November 9,

1953, Serial No. 390,944

12 Claims. or. 155-163) the side arm rest and manually operable to permit pivoting movement of the reclinable back to the desired angle of recline and wherein return of the reclinable back to its upright position is accomplished merely by manual pushing of the reclinable back from the rear thereof. The present application. is a division of my co-pending parent application, Serial No. 327,570, filed December 23, 1952, for Seat Construction.

A primary object of the present invention is to provide an improved recline mechanism for body-supporting seats of the type having .a reclinable. back and at least one sidearm rest wherein manually operable means is provided for permitting movement of the back to a reclined position, yet wherein return of the seat back to itsupright position does'not require the operation of the manual means sothat when a plurality of such seats have their seat backs in various reclined positions, a person may return all of the seat backs to their upright relationship by successively exerting a force against the back'of each of the seats.

'A further object'of the present invention is to provide an improved recline mechanism for body-supporting seats wherein several of the means thereof are commonly supported within the framework of the side arm rest and wherein a single reciprocable trombone-like member. is provided for interconnection of the recline mechanism and seat back, which member inherently positively retains itself in operative engagement with the spur gear dfthereclin'e' mechanism.

Still further, it is another object of the present invention to provide an improved arrangement within a re cline mechanism which includes a trombone-like memher one reach of which has a rack gear attached thereto for engagement with the spur gear of the recline mechanism,'the other rackless reach being engageable with a spool coaxial with the spur gear for retaining the reach having the rack gear thereon in engagement with the spurgear.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an improved recline mechanism arrangement wherein the spur gear, spool and trombone-like member are so operatively associated as to positively maintain operative interconnection between the several elements and limit relative lateral movement to a negligible amount.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide an improved recline mechanism wherein the relatively movable" elements thereof inherently maintain working clearances between themselves and prevent undesirable relative lateral movement and thus provide for running alignment between the trombone-like member and the spur gear.

Still another object of the present invention is to pro- :vide an improved arrangement for supporting the recline mechanism within the side arm rest of a body-supporting .stantially along the plane of 2,802,516 Patented Aug. 13, 1957 seat whereby the recline mechanism is substantially protected from damage such as might occur from a blow to the side of the side arm rest and wherein'the support is such as to maintain the several relatively movable elements in preselected juxtaposed relationship.

Various other objects and advantages will become apparent from the detailed description to follow. Generally speaking, my invention involves the provision of a loop-like support which is fixed to the substantially horizontal bars of the side arm rest, that is the upper and lower bars substantially medially of the length thereof, which loop-like support carries a pivot pin at about its medial portion. A spur gear, brake pulley and spool all are coaxially carried by the-pivot pin with the spur gear and brake pulleyfixed for movement with each other while the spool is separately rotatably'mounted for rotation in a direction opposite to that of'the spur gear and the brake pulley. The width of the loop-like support is such as to maintain the brake pulley, spur gear and spool in juxtaposed relationship. The spool is formed with a peripheral groove between side flange portions. A trombone-like member having spaced reaches is formed with a rack gear on one of its reaches while the rackless reach has an extension pivotally connected to the seat back. The rack gear is out of the plane of the pair of reaches and is in engagement with the spur gear while the rackless reach is engaged in the groove of the spool at the side of the pivot pin remote from the rack gear. One of the side flanges of the spool is of such diameter as to cooperate with the spur gear and rack gear so as to maintain the latter from relative lateral movement. The spacing between the rack gear and rackless reach is such as to maintain the working clearance between the rack'gear and spur gear.

Manual release means is provided at the front of the side arm rest and a cable operatively associated with the manual release means extends therefrom and is Wrapped around the brake pulley and terminates at a bracket connection with the bottom bar of the side arm rest. Normally, the manual release means applies a tension to the cable thus maintaining frictional contact between the cable and the brake pulley, thereby preventing backward tilting of the seat back. Manual release of the tension on the cable reduces the friction and permits backward tilting but in any'event the seat back can be tilted forward regardless of operation of the manual release means.

When the straps as disclosed in my copending application #327,570 are installed on the seat frame, their tendency is to utilize the passengers down weighton the seat bottom to automatic ally return the seat back from recline to vertical position. In order that seat back erection occur only when desired by the occupant, thecable drag in the pulley groove can be pre-set as desired so that it is necessary for the occupant to depress the recline knob to permit return of the seat back to upright position. Provision of this drag does not prevent erection of the seat back by hand, without depressing the recline knob, as mentioned above.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a twin seat unit disposed in open operative position in the cabin of an air plane; I

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the seat unit framework; Fig. 3 is an enlarged'detail perspective view of one of the side arm rests showing the interior framework thereof and the recline mechanism housed therein;

Fig. 4 is a verticaltransverse sectional view takensubn. o r 1 Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the portion of the arrangement disclosed in Fig. 3 and showing details of the manual release means;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational detail view of the trombonelikemember and showing its combinative relationship With the spur gear and spool;

Fig. 7 in a top plan view of the arrangement of Fig. 6; r Fig: 8 is a View similar toPig. 3 butshowing a modified form of mechanism; and

Fig. 9 -is a somewhat diagrammatic showing of the cable arrangement asrincluded in the modification.

Referring to the drawings in greater detail, and having reference. to Fig. 1, it will be seen that a twin seat unit is disclosed as being mounted on the floor 1 of an airplane cabin having side wall 2 which has a window3. The seat unit is comprised of a framework as best shown in Fig. 2 which includes side armrest frame structure generally denoted by the numeral 4, seat bottom framework 5, leg constructions 6 and 6', and tiltable or reclinable seatbacks 7. Suitable covering of the framework can be made in any desired fashion and as an example ref erence is made to my copending application wherein there-is a disclosure of details of the covering and cushioning of the seat unit as well as details of'the framework including the leg construction, seat bottom and seat back.

Having reference now to Figs. 3 and 4, it will be noted that the side arm rest frame structure 4 is comprised of an endless element having a substantially horizontal upper bar 8 which is diagonally downwardly and forwardly bent at its front end to form the incline bar portion 9, which latter portion is reversely bent to provide the horizontal portion 10 which in turn is upwardly bent at its after end to form member 11, which joins with the upper bar portion 8 at 12. At the bend 13 between the portions 10 and 11 of the substantially rectangular bar framework of the-side arm rest, a pair of substantially triangular plates 14 and 15 are secured, as by weld, a plate 16 joining the plates 14 and 15 along their upper edges to maintain the same in fixed parallel relationship. A pivot pin 17 is journaled through theplates 14 and 15 and pivotally supports the shepherds crook-like seat back element 18 which terminates in curved element 19 in the manner specifically described in my referred to copending appli cation. The upper end of the lower bend 19 in the seat back framework has a pin or bolt 20 secured thereto which provides an operative pivot connection for the recline mechanism presently to be described.

The support structure for the recline mechanism includes a loop-like support bar 21 which includes substantially parallel side portions 22 and 23 with the upper and lower and upper arcuate portions 24 and 25 respectively secured to the inside surfaces of the side arm rest bar portions 8 and 10 substantially at the medial portions of the latter. The loop-like member or elongated loop has its major axis substantially vertically disposed with its minor axis substantially perpendicular to the plane of the side arm rest frames 8, 9, 1t} and 11. Thin-walled, hollow plate-like elements 26 and 27 are disposed in substantially parallel relationship and are secured to the parallel legs 21 and 22 on common sides thereof as by weld at 28 and 29. Aligned holes parallel to the minor axis of the loop are drilled through the plates 26 and 27 at 30 and 31 to provide bearing housings in which are received through welded bushings 32 and 33.

The recline mechanism includes a trombone-like member 34 which has a substantially endless portion including a lower straight tube portion or reach 35, an upper straight tube portion or reach 36, arcuate portions 37 and 38 joining the reaches and 36 and the reach 35 having an extension portion 39 terminating in a flat portion 40 through which the bolt 20 extends for pivotal connection of the trombone-like member 34 to the shepherds crooklike member 18. The reaches 35 and 36 are substantially parallel throughout their length but the upper-reach 36 is laterally offset from the vertical plane of the other g a cable 61 4 reach 35 and has a rack gear 41 secured to its under side as by weld 42, the rack gear 41 being substantially parallel to the rackless reach 35 but out of the plane of pair of reaches 35 and 36. The rack gear 41 is so related to the trombone-like member 34 that the transverse plane of the working face thereof is parallel to the axis of the hollow pivot pin or bolt. 43- which is received within the bushings 32 and 33.

Having continued referencev to Figs. 321ml 4, it willbe seen that there is provided a brake pulley 44 the outer periphery of which is grooved at 45 and thecenterof which is apertured at 46 so as to be journaled on the bushing 80 adjacent the plate 26. Secured to the inside face 47 of the brake pulley 44 is, a bracketplate 48,*riyets 49 or the like being employed for securement purposes. The plate 48 has an offset portion 50 of substantially circular form to which is secured the spur gear 51, the diameter of the spur gear being less than the diameter of the offset portion 50 of the plate 48. Rivets. or other securement means 52 are employed for securement of the. spur gear 51 to the offset portion 50 of the plate48. Adjacent the spur gear 51 and coaxially mounted on the pin 43 is a spool 53 having a-central bore 54 therethrough which is of larger diameter than the external diameter of the pin 43 so as to substantially minimize frictional resistance betweenthe spool 53 and the pin 43 when the spool is rotated relative thereto. The spool. 53 has its periphery formed with a substantially semi-circular groove 55, the radius of curvature of which is slightly larger than the radius of curvature of the tubular reach 35. The groove 55 has annular flanges 56 and 57 at each side thereof with the flange 56 being sufficiently large in diameter to provide a retaining surface substantially coplanar with the juxtaposed face of the spur gear 51..

It is to be noted that the attachment or adaptor plate 48 and spur gear 51 have thebore at 58 therethrou gh larger than the external diameter. of the pin 43 so asto olfer no frictional resistance to rotation of the brake pulley and spur gear relative to the pin 43.

As shown in the figures under discussion and also in Figs. 6 and 7, the trombone-like member 34 has its rack 41 engaged with the teeth of the spur gear 51. at one side of the pivot pin 43 while the rackless reach 35 is on the opposing side of the pivot pin 43 and is engaged in the groove 55 of the spool53. Spacing between the rackless reach and the rack gear 41 is such as to'main tain the rack gear in engagement with the spur gear with a working clearance therebetween. The formation of the groove 55 as well as the flange 56 and adaptor plate offset portion 50 maintains the trombone-like member from lateral displacement relative to the spur gear 51 and thus maintain running alignment between the top cooperative elements. It will thus be seen that with the trombone-like member 34 connected to the shepherds crook-like member 18, pivoting of the seat back will effect reciprocation of the trombone-likemember relative to the pivot pin 43, the engagement of the rack gear 41 with the spur gear effecting rotation of the latter and contact between the rackless reach 35 and the spool 53 may effect some rotation of the latter.

In order to prevent free backward pivoting of the seat back, there is provided cable friction means 59 and manual release means 60. The cable means 59'includes one end of which terminates in a fittingy62 which is pivotally connected to the bracket 63 which in turn is secured to the bar portion 10 of the side arm rest framework. The cable 61 extends around the brake pulley 44 for several turns in the direction of the arrow 64 on Fig. 3. The free end of the cable 61 is brought forward and is attached by means of a nut 65 threaded on the externally threaded terminal end portion 66 of the cable to the pivot channel member 67. The pivot channel member 67 is as best shown in Fig. 5 of angulated form so as to substantially conform to'the front end of the 'side arm rest framework, the lower end portion 68 thereof providing means to which the cable end 66 is attached by the nut 65. The channel 67 is pivotally connected at its lower extremity to the frame bar portion '10 by a pin 81. The manual release means 60 includes a bolt 69 which extends through the channel member 67 and terminates in a threaded portion 70 on which is threaded a' recline knob 71 which is normally exposed through the covering for the side arm rest as designated in dotted line at 72 in Fig. 5. A coil spring 73 normally urges the recline knob 71 outwardly and thus urges the channel member 67 to pivot toward the flout bar portion 9 thus leverably tensioning the cable 61 on the brake pulley 44, as will be understood.

In operation, it will thus be seen that when it is desired to rearwardly incline the seat back 7, the person sitting in the seat merely depresses the recline knob 71 thus overcoming the pressure exerted by the spring 73 and relieving tension on the cable 61. In this fashion frictional engagement with the periphery of the brake pulley 44 will be substantially reduced and the weight of the person sitting in the seat can then be utilized to push backwardly against the seat to recline the same. In so doing, it will-be noted that the trombone-like element 34 which is connected to the shepherds crook-like element 18 will pivot relative thereto and will move rearwardly causing rotation of the spur gear and brake pulley attached thereto. There will be no opportunity for the trombone-like. member to become disengaged fromthe spur gear because. of the structural arrangement.

When the desired degree of rearward inclination has beenachieved, the person need merely release the recline knob and tension would .be reapplied to the cable 61 thus frictionally limiting the rotation of the brake pulley '44, thereby holding the seat back in the desired relationship. As is the practice at each station stop, all of the seats in the airplane must have their seat backs returned to their upright position before the next flight. Although the seat backs may be in various degrees of relative inclination all that is necessary is for the operator to exert a pushing force against the rear of each of the seat backs and the same will move forwardly inasmuch as the brake pulley offers a minimum of resistance to relative movement between the brake pulley and the cable in this direction. In this connection, it is to be noted that the cable 61 is not firmly anchored at its end 66 but can move as a result of pivoting of the element 67. Thus it is not necessary to depress the recline knob when returning the seat back to its upright position. The fixed connection at 62, 63 does not, on the other hand, permit the backward pivoting of the seat back until the recline knob is depressed to relieve frictional pressure between the cable and the brake pulley.44. Another advantage to this arrangement that is obvious is that forward load imposed on the seat back by the occupant in.the seat behind, as may be caused during a crash, will cause the seat back to move forwardly easily thereby eliminating or reducing injury to passengers, q

Further advantages to the arrangement hereinbefore described are that with the spool formation as described, the larger flange 56 is of sufiiciently large diameter to hold the gear rack and spur gear teeth in cross-wise or lateral alignment. Furthermore, the radius of curvature of the groove in the spool is such as to provide running alignment for the trombone-like member 34. Also, the minimum diameter of the spool is such as to maintain proper vertical working clearance between the teeth of the rack gear and the spur gear.

Still further, the width of the spool is such as to provide proper spacing of the vertical loop-like support element to prevent the loop-like element from being jammed inwardly in service and binding the locking mechanism. In other words, the spool provides proper operating clearance around the axis. of the pivot pin 43.

6 Additionally, the provision of the oversized bore in the spool as well as in the spur gear' and adaptor plate 48 permits the same to freely rotate relative to the pin 43 and thus reduce drag on the trombone-like element thereby minimizing wear in service.

Another advantage to the arrangement above described is the utilization of the wheel and axle principle, wherein the load is applied near the axle, as in gear teeth, with resistance to the load occurring at the rim of the wheel distant from the axle, thus resulting in considerable mechanical advantage; thus reducing wear on the pulley and on the cable to a minimum.

A modification is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. Similar reference numerals are applied to parts similar to those in the above described embodiment, a further description thereof beingdeem-ed unnecessary. It is to be particularly noted, however, that the cable and anchoring means therefor differ from the above embodiment. The cable 82 has both its ends terminating in bifurcated fittings 84 and 86, the fittings being pivotally secured to the brackets 88 and 90 by pins 92 and 94, the brackets being fixedly secured to the bar portion 10 at longitudinally spaced points. The intermediate length of cable is encircled about the brake pulley or drum 44 and in the peripheral channel thereof, one of the turns about the pulley 44 is drawn outwardly and is engaged over the roller 96, the roller being journale-d within the bifurcated portion 98 on pin 100. The bifurcated portion 98 has a shank extending therefrom terminating in a threaded portion at 102 which extends through pivot channel member 67 for adjustable securement thereto by the nut 104.

Fig. 9 diagrammatically shows the fixed ends of the cable 82 at 84, 88 and 86, 90 with the several intermediate coils 106 which are engaged over the brake pulley, the one coil or loop 108 being drawn outwardly and engaged over the roller 96. The channel pivot along with the adjustability of the nut 104 on the threaded shank end 102 provide for adjustable tensioning of the cable loops over the brake pulley, which tensi-ouing affords the desired resistance to rotation of the pulley in either direction. Of course, such resistance in turn resists reclining of the seat back but it also resists return of the seat back to its upright position. It will be understood that such an arrangement may be particularly advantageous where the automatic back return is undesirable, as is the case in aircraft having rearwardly facing seats wherein forward acceleration upon take-off might tend to erect the seat backs.

When it is desired to recline the seat back or to return the seat back to its upright position, the passenger depresses the recline button and either exerts his weight against the seat back to recline the same or utilizes his down weight on the seat bottom to return the seat back to its upright position.

7 As this invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the spirit or essential character;

istics thereof, the present embodiment is therefore illus trative and not restrictive, since the scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims rather than by the description preceding them, and all changes that fall within the metes and bounds of the claims or that form their functional as well as conjointly cooperative equivalents, are therefore intended to be embraced by those claims.

I claim:

1. In a body-supporting seat having a reclinable back and side arm rest, a recline mechanism comprising supporting means carried by the side arm rest, a spur gear rotatably supported by said means, a spool rotatable relative to said gear and also rotatably supported by said means, a brake pulley fixed to said spur gear, means engaged about said brake pulley and operatively associated with a manually operable means carried by said side arm rest and normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free rotation in a first rotational directionwhile permitting rotation in a second rotational direction, and rack gear means in operative engagement with said spur gear and spool and held in alignment with said gear by said spool, and a connection between said rack gear means and said seat back.

2. In a body-supporting seat having a reclinable back and side arm rest, a recline mechanism. comprising a loop-like support fixed to the side arm rest, a pivot pin supportedby said loop, a spur gear and brake pulley commonly rotatably supported by said pin, a spool rotatable relative to said gear and brake, pulley and rotatably supported by said loop, manual release means carried. by the side arm rest, means engaged about said brake pulley and operatively associated with said manual release. means and normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free rotation in a first rotational direction while permitting rotation in a sec-nd rotational direction, and rack gear means in operative association with said spur gear and spool and held in alignment with said gear by said spool, and a connection between said rack gear means and said seat back.

3. In a body-supporting seat having a reclinable back and side arm rest, a reclinetmechanism comprising a loop-like support fixed to the side arm rest, a pivot pin supported by said loop, a spur gear and brake pulley commonly rotatably supported by said pin, a spool rotatable relative to said gear and brake pulley and rotatably supported by said loop, manual release means carried by the side arm rest, means engaged about said brake pulley and operatively associated with said manual release means and normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free rotation in a first rotational direc- -ti0n while permitting rotation in a second rotational directionand rack gear means in operative association with said spur gear and spool and held in alignment with said gear by said spool, and a connection between said rack gear means and said seat back, said rack gear means including a trombone-like member having spaced reaches,

'a gear rack on one of said reaches being substantially parallel with the other reach andengaged with said spur gear While the other reach is engaged against the periphery of said spool.

4. In a body-supporting seat having a reclinable back and side arm rest, a recline mechanism comprising a loop-like support fixed to the side arm rest, a pivot pin supported by said loop, a spur gear and brake pulley com- .monly rotatably supported by said pin, a spool rotatable relative to said gear and brake pulley and rotatably supported by said loop, manual release means carried; by the side arm rest, means engaged about said brake pulley and operatively associated with said manual release means and normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free rotation in a first rotational direction While permit ting rotation in a second rotational direction, and rack gear means in operative association with said spur gear and spool and held in alignment with said gear by said spool, and a connection between said rack gear means and said sea-t back, said spool being co-axial with said spur gear, and said rack gear means including a tromhone-like member having spaced reaches, a gear rack on one of said reaches being substantially equally spaced throughout its length from the opposing reach and being substantially out of the plane of the pair of reaches, the diameter of said spool and the spacing between the gear rack and the opposing reach being such that with the latter reach on one side of the pivotal axis and engaged with the spool and the gear rack on the opposing side of "the pivotal axis a working clearance is provided.

comm-only rotatably supported by said pin, a spool rotatable relative to said gear and brake pulley and ro- 8 tatablycsupported by said loop, manual release means carried by ,the side arm rest, means: engaged about said brake pulleyand operatively .associated'with said manual release. means and normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free. rotation in afirst rotational direotion while; permitting rotationin aseeond rotational direction,';and rack gear means in operative association with, said spur gear and spool and held in alignment with said gear by said spool, and-a connection between said rack gear means and said seat back, said spool being -r x al i h a d pur gea a dfiha g t v p r p e y grooved, and said rackge ar means including a trombonelike member-having spaced reaches, a gear rack onone f said reache being; su t n i l y eq ally p ce h gh,- out its "length from -th;e opposing reach and being substantially out of the plane; of the pair of reaches, sai d ppo r a h; ha ng;- s: r ns rs cr e io su stantiallycomplementary tothe groove of the spool, the

diameter of; said spool and the spacing betweenthe gear rack; and the opposing reachbeing such that with the latter reach on one side *ofythe pivotal axis and engaged in said-groove, the rack on the other reach will be on the oppositeside of the pivotal axis and engaged with said spur gear withworking clearance and will also be held in running alignment with said spur gear.

6. In a body-supporting seat havinga reclinable, back and sidearm rest, a recline mechanism comprising alooplike, support fixed to the side armrest, a pivot pin supported by said loop, a spurt gear and brake pulley commonly rotatably supported by said pin, a spool co-axi'al with said spur gear .andbrake pulley, closely adjacent said spur; gear and rota-table on said pivot pin relative to said gear and pulley m-anual release meansvcarried by the side. arm. rest, means operatively associated with said manual release means and normally frictionally holding said brake pulleyfrom free rotation in a first rotational direction while permitting rotation in a second rotational direction, rack gear means, a connection be: tween said rack gear means and said seat back, said rack gear means including a trombone-like member having spaced reaches, arack gear on one of said reaches being substantially parallel with the other of said reaches and engaged with said spur gear, said spool having its periphery provided-with acontinuous groove between side flange, portions, one of said side flange portionswbeing substantiallyeoplanar with the closely adjacent face of the spur gear soas to hold the rack gearand spur gear in cross wise alignment, said other reach being substantially complementary tov saigdgroove and disposed on the side of the, pivotal axis remote from said rack gear and so spaced therefrom as to be engaged within the grooveof the spool whilemaintaining working clearance between the rack gear and the spurgear.

7. In a seat having a reclinable back and side-arm rest, a recline mechanism therein comprising a trombone member for operatively connecting the mechanism to the reclinable back having a substantially endless portion with first and second reaches joined together, one of the reaches having an extension portion beyond "its connection with the other reach for pivotal connection to the reclinable back, the other reach having a rack afiixed thereto out of the plane of the two reaches, the recline mechanism also including a spur gear, a spool rotatable. relative to the spur gear and adjacent thereto, the rackless reach being in the plane ofsaidspool and engaged therewith for guided reeiprooatingrnovemen-t in an arcuate path while the rack on the other reach is operatively associated with said spur gear, and the rackless reach being disposed on the side of said spool opposite to the side on which the rackis disposed relative toflthe spur gear so as to retain the rack in engagement with the spur gear;

8. In a body-su pporting seat having a reclinable back and sidearm rest, a recline mechanism comprising a loop-like support'fixed' to the side arm restja pivot pin supported by said loop, a spur gear and brake pulley commonly rotatably supported by said pin, a spool coaxial with said spur gear and brake pulley, closely adjacent said spur gear and rotatable on said pivot pin relative to said gear and pulley, manual release means carried by the side arm rest, means operatively associated with said manual release means and normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free rotation in a first rotational direction while permitting rotation in a second rotational direction, rack gear means, said rack gear means including a trombone-like member having spaced reaches joined at their ends, and one of said reaches having a rack gear secured thereto, and the rackless reach having an extension pivotally connected with the seat back at a point offset from the pivot mounting for the seat back, said rack gear being out of the plane of said reaches and engaged with said spur gear, said spool having its periphery provided with a continuous groove, said rackless reach having a cross-section substantially complementary to said groove and disposed on the side of the pivotal axis remote from said rack gear and so spaced therefrom as to maintain a working clearance between the spur gear and gear rack.

9. In a body-supporting seat having a reclinable back and side arm rest, a recline mechanism comprising a loop-like support fixed to the side arm rest, said loop- ]ike support being of predetermined inside Width and supporting a pivot pin across its width, a spur gear, brake pulley and spool co-axial with and carried by said pin with said spool adjacent said spur gear, said spur gear and brake pulley being fixed relative to one another and rotatable relative to said spool and the sum of the widths of said spur gear, brake pulley and spool being such as to be substantially equal to the inside width of said looplike support, manual release means carried by the side arm rest, means operatively associated With said manual release means and normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free rotation in a first rotational direction While permitting rotation in a second rotational. direction, rack gear means, a connection between said rack gear means and said seat back, said rack gear means including a trombone-like member having spaced reaches, a rack gear on one of said reaches being substantially parallel with the other of said reaches and engaged with said spur gear, said spool having its periphery provided with a continuous groove between side flange portions, one of said side flange portions being substantially coplanar with the closely adjacent face of the spur gear so as to hold the rack gear and spur gear in cross-wise alignment, said other reach being substantially complementary to said groove and disposed on the side of the pivotal axis remote from said rack gear and so spaced therefrom as to be engaged within the groove of the spool while maintaining working clearance between the rack gear and the spur gear.

10. In a body-supporting seat having a reclinable back and a side arm rest, a recline mechanism comprising supporting means carried by the side arm rest, a spur gear rotatably supported by said means, a spool rotatable relative to said gear and also rotatably supported by said means, a brake pulley fixed to said spur gear, manually operable means carried by said side arm rest, means engaged about said brake pulley and operatively associated with said manually operable means for normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free rotation in at least one rotational direction, and rack gear means in operative engagement with said spur gear and spool and held in alignment with said gear by said spool, and a connection between said rack gear means and said seat back.

11. In a body-supporting seat having a reclinable back and a side arm rest, a recline mechanism comprising supporting means carried by the side arm rest, a spur gear rotatably supported by said means, a spool rotatable relative to said gear and also rotatably supported by said means, a brake pulley fixed to said spur gear, manually operable means carried by said side arm rest, means engaged about said brake pulley and operatively associated with said manually operable means for normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free rotation in either rotational direction, and rack gear means in operative engagement with said spur gear and spool and held in alignment with said gear by said spool, and a connection between said rack gear means and said seat back.

12. In a body-supporting seat having a reclinable back and a side arm rest, a recline mechanism comprising supporting means carried by the side armrest, a spur gear rotatably supported by said means, a spool rotatable relative to said gear and also rotatably supported by said means, a brake pulley fixed to said spur gear, means engaged about said brake pulley for normally frictionally holding said brake pulley from free rotation in either rotational direction, rack gear means in operative engagement with said spur gear and spool and held in alignment with said gear by said spool, and a connection between said rack gear means and the seat back, and manually releasable means operatively associated with the means engaged about the brake pulley for freeing said pulley for rotation in either direction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 82,482 Blood Sept. 29, 1868 218,769 Petersen Aug. 19, 1879 435,938 Lord Sept. 9, 1890 1,773,597 Meyerson Aug. 19, 1930 2,133,471 Opperman Oct. 18, 1938 FOREIGN PATENTS 35,395 France Aug; 6, 1929 

